6 NHL Goalies Who Could Be On the Move This Offseason
This summer's NHL free-agent pool isn't deep with quality goaltenders.
Some, such as Jonathan Quick and Semyon Varlamov, are former starters in their mid to late 30s and past their prime.
Others, such as Tristan Jarry, Joonas Korpisalo and Alex Nedeljkovic, have struggled with consistency. Vegas Golden Knights netminders Adin Hill and Laurent Brossoit played well in this postseason, but they still have a limited body of work as reliable starters.
Teams seeking help between the pipes could be active in this summer's trade market. Such notables as the Winnipeg Jets' Connor Hellebuyck and the Philadelphia Flyers' Carter Hart have surfaced in recent weeks as trade candidates.
Here's our take on six NHL starting goaltenders who could be traded during this offseason. We'll examine the factors that could lead to them getting moved as well as potential destinations.
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Jack Campbell: Edmonton Oilers
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The Edmonton Oilers signed Jack Campbell to a five-year, $25 million contract during the opening day of the 2022 NHL free-agent period. He was expected to provide stability between the pipes for a club that spent several seasons struggling to find a reliable starting goaltender.
Instead, the 31-year-old struggled to adjust to his new club. While he had a record of 21 wins, nine losses and four overtime losses, he finished the regular season with a bloated 3.41 goals-against average and a disappointing .888 save percentage. Those stats had him near the bottom of the league for goalies with at least 25 games played.
By the time the playoffs started, Campbell had lost the starting goalie job to Stuart Skinner, who backstopped Edmonton to the second round. Despite relieving the rookie in four games as he struggled in the heat of postseason play, Oilers coach Jay Woodcroft never handed the starter's reins back to Campbell.
Campbell's regular-season performance, his cap hit and 10-team no-trade clause make him a long shot to be traded. But we can't rule out the possibility of the cap-strapped Oilers finding a possible trade partner during the draft.
Juuse Saros: Nashville Predators
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Since taking over as the Nashville Predators starting goaltender in 2019-20, Juuse Saros has established himself among the league's elite. He was a finalist last season for the Vezina Trophy and was among the top 10 this season with 33 wins and a .919 save percentage.
Despite his strong performance, the Predators failed to qualify for the playoffs. Long-time general manager David Poile handed over the reins to Barry Trotz, sparking speculation that the 28-year-old netminder faces an uncertain future in Tennessee.
On June 7, Nashville Hockey Now's Michael Gallagher cited a source claiming the Los Angeles Kings looked into acquiring the Finn leading up to the March trade deadline. However, they balked at the asking price of two first-round picks and more.
Saros' future could depend on whether Trotz intends on retooling or rebuilding the Predators' roster. If he's seeking a quick turnaround in their fortunes, he'll retain his starting goaltender; if he's looking to rebuild, Saros could fetch a return of draft picks and prospects.
Linus Ullmark: Boston Bruins
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The Boston Bruins dominated the 2022-23 regular season with a record-setting 65 wins and 135 points. Goaltender Linus Ullmark played a key role in that performance.
The 29-year-old led all starters with a 1.89 goals-against average and a .938 save percentage. He also shared the league lead in wins (40) with Colorado's Alexandar Georgiev.
Ullmark's efforts made him a finalist for the 2023 Vezina Trophy, but the Bruins' salary-cap constraints for 2023-24 generated speculation he could be traded in a cost-cutting move.
On May 18, Boston Hockey Now's Jimmy Murphy reported the Bruins listened to trade offers for the Swede heading into last year's offseason. His source believes his $5 million average annual value through 2024-25 is affordable for most teams, suggesting he could be moved this offseason.
With $4.9 million in projected cap space for next season and 15 active roster players under contract, the Bruins could consider all cost-cutting measures.
Ullmark has a full no-movement clause for this season, so he'd have to agree to waive it if he's to be dealt at the draft. However, it becomes a 16-team no-trade on July 1, giving the Bruins some wiggle room.
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John Gibson: Anaheim Ducks
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John Gibson was among those on our May 11 list of six NHL players on bad teams who could be traded by the 2023 draft. Recent reports suggest the Anaheim Ducks goaltender could be on the move by as early as the talent grab.
Daily Faceoff's Frank Seravalli had Gibson sitting ninth on his list of this summer's top trade targets. He indicated the 29-year-old was available last summer but the Ducks set a high asking price.
Gibson carries a $6.4 million average annual value for four more seasons along with a 10-team no-trade clause. Seravalli wondered if the Ducks would retain part of his salary to facilitate a trade.
The Orange County Register's Lisa Dillman also wondered if Gibson has played his final game with Anaheim. She reported that he met with general manager Pat Verbeek and expressed his sentiments about parting ways with the club.
On March 22, NHL.com's Dan Rosen proposed the Buffalo Sabres and Pittsburgh Penguins as potential trade destinations for him. Both clubs have sufficient cap space to acquire his services.
A Pittsburgh native, Gibson could prefer joining his hometown team.
Carter Hart: Philadelphia Flyers
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The Philadelphia Flyers shipping out Ivan Provorov to the Columbus Blue Jackets last week in a three-team trade prompted speculation that Carter Hart could also be on the move.
Per Gustav Elvin of the Philadelphia Inquirer, Flyers general manager Daniel Brière said: "We're open for business. We listen on everybody. Everybody's being treated the same way for us on our side."
Hart, 24, is entering the final season of his three-year contract. His average annual value is $3.9 million and he lacks no-trade protection. He's slated to become a restricted free agent with arbitration rights next July, so Brière isn't under pressure to move him out this summer.
On May 27, Brière told Philadelphia Sports Radio 94.1 WIP (h/t Chuck Bausman of Philadelphia Hockey Now) that he's open to trading Hart but still considers him their "goalie for the future."
If Brière does peddle Hart, he could seek a significant return. San Jose Hockey Now's Sheng Peng cited a source suggesting two first-round picks could be part of the asking price.
Hart's youth and solid play with a bad Flyers team could draw plenty of interest. On June 8, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman indicated his sources suggested the Montreal Canadiens, Toronto Maple Leafs and Buffalo Sabres could come calling. He'd also heard the Ottawa Senators but said that was denied.
Connor Hellebuyck: Winnipeg Jets
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The Winnipeg Jets' struggles over the second half of this season and their early exit from the postseason prompted conjecture about a shakeup of their core players.
On June 3, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported they were willing to entertain offers for goaltender Connor Hellebuyck along with centers Mark Scheifele and Pierre-Luc Dubois.
Hellebuyck, 30, could be the Jets' best trade chip. Winner of the Vezina Trophy in 2019, he's a finalist for the award this season and remains among the league's elite goalies.
He has a year left on his contract with an average annual value of $6.2 million, lacks no-trade protection and is eligible for unrestricted free-agent status next July.
The Jets could attempt to re-sign Hellebuyck to an extension, but The Athletic reported that ship has sailed, expecting his next contract will be with another club.
On June 5, Daily Faceoff's Matt Larkin suggested the Carolina Hurricanes, Los Angeles Kings and New Jersey Devils as potential suitors for the netminder. He could become the final piece of the Stanley Cup puzzle for those clubs.
Larkin also included the Ottawa Senators, Pittsburgh Penguins, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Vegas Golden Knights.
However, Hellebuyck could be reluctant to sign with the rebuilding Senators. And the aging Penguins lack depth in young tradeable assets, while the Leafs and Golden Knights could be hampered by their limited salary-cap space.
Stats via NHL.com with salary information via Cap Friendly.
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